EU Parliament to endorse Juncker for powerful job

STRASBOURG, France--Luxembourg's former conservative premier Jean-Claude Juncker won the endorsement Tuesday of the European Parliament to become president of the powerful European Commission for the next five years.

Despite sharp opposition from Britain and Hungary, Juncker had been put up as a candidate for the job by 26 of the European Union's 28 leaders, but needed a majority of at least 376 votes in parliament to take up the post.

He mustered 422 votes in favor — with 250 votes against, 47 abstentions and 10 spoiled ballots — which was a little short of the 480 lawmakers that make up the three mains groups, the conservatives, the social-democrats and the liberals.